An insider's guide to what to do on a short break in Lanzarote, including the best places for lunch, top sights and where to spend the evening. By Annie Bennett, Telegraph Travel's Lanzarote expert.

Annie Bennett has been living in Spain on and off since the 1980s. She wrote the National Geographic Traveler Madrid guidebook as well as Blue Guides to Madrid and Barcelona. She has won several awards, including Spain Travel Writer of the Year.

Here are two suggestions for an ideal day out in Lanzarote– whether you prefer the beach or a tour of the island.

Download the free Telegraph Travel app to destinations including Paris, New York and Rome: itunes.apple.com.

A day on the beach

Morning

Just east of the resort of Playa Blanca (1 on map), Papagayo is a crescent of white sand sheltered by cliffs in a nature reserve on the southern tip of the island, with superb views across the sea to Fuerteventura. It shouldn’t be too crowded at this time of year, but there are half a dozen other bays to choose from nearby. By car, just follow the signs from Playa Blanca. The beaches are accessed via a track, for which there is a €3/£2.35 charge, which also covers parking. It is much more fun, however, to take the Princesa Yaiza boat from Playa Blanca, which costs €15 return.

The sheltered beach at Papagayo, in the south of the island

Lunch

Unless you’re organised enough to get a picnic together to take to the beach, grab a table on the terrace at Casa Angelina (no booking) and order a paella or some clams, prawns or octopus.

Afternoon

A short drive up the west coast brings you to a totally different coastline, where the cliffs of dark volcanic stone are pounded by the Atlantic. Stop off at Los Hervideros to see the waves crashing into caves, then continue to the extraordinary beach at El Golfo, where a green lagoon stretches across the sand. The cliffs are part of a crater that has been eroded by the sea.

Dinner In El Golfo village, there is a string of restaurants by the sea. Install yourself at Bogavante (2) (Avenida Marítima 39, El Golfo; 00 34 928 173505) to watch the sunset with a bottle of Los Bermejos white wine and some prawns, octopus or a seriously good paella. About £15.

A tour of the island

Morning drive

Head for César Manrique’s former home in the middle of a lava field in Tahiche, near Costa Teguise, which is now a foundation devoted to his life and work, then drive north to the mesmeric Cactus Garden, which he created from an old quarry. On the way, look out for the wind sculptures that he made to adorn round-abouts throughout the island (fcmanrique.org).

Lunch

El Amanecer (La Garita 46, Arrieta; no phone) is a family-run place with a terrace right by the sea near La Garita beach in Arrieta on the north-east coast of the island. Arrive before 1pm to get one of the best waterside tables. The fish is as fresh as you can get and portions are generous. About £15.

Afternoon drive

Drive north to Los Jameos del Agua (3), where Manrique worked his magic on one of the caves in the lava tube that runs down to the sea from the Monte Corona volcano. On the northern tip of the island, he turned an old gun battery on the edge of the cliff into a restaurant and observation point, the Mirador del Río. Heading south, see the pretty town of Teguise (4), the original capital of the island, then drive across La Geria, the wine-producing area, where each vine is planted in a circular hollow in the volcanic soil, protected by a curving wall of basalt rock.

Lichens on the rocks in front of Lanzarote's Monte Corona volcano

Dinner

El Chupadero (Carretera de la Geria 3; 00 34 928 173115; el-chupadero.com), in the heart of La Geria, is a laidback bar and restaurant with great views across the vineyards. Try a few of the wines with some tapas – maybe a selection of local goats’ cheeses. There is sometimes a DJ or live music too. Around £10-£15.

Download the free Telegraph Travel app to destinations including Paris, New York and Rome: itunes.apple.com.